How to Choose a Showerhead

Types

You would be mistaken for thinking that all shower heads are the same. While their primary function is quite simple, there are multiple types of shower nozzle and depending on your criteria – be it value, space or function – It’s important to consider the full variety of shower components before making your choice.

Rainfall Shower Heads

Rainfall or waterfall showerheads are the ultimate in showering luxury. While there is an abundance of designs available, the key feature of a rainfall shower is a large spray surface of 10 or more inches. Rainfall showers tend to be fixed and mounted directly overhead, rather than angled near the shower wall like a standard fixer showerhead

Pros

The large surface area of a rainfall showerhead evenly distributes water, which many people find soothing and therapeutic. The addition of a rainfall shower in your bathroom may also make your home more appealing to buyers.

Cons

Rainfall shower heads require a large space to operate, meaning they are generally unsuitable for small bathrooms.

Ceiling Mounted Shower Heads

The next step from the luxury of a rainfall shower head; is a concealed, recessed or ceiling-mounted shower head that recreates the same waterfall effect while appearing to cascade straight from the ceiling. Sitting just away from the ceiling, or sometimes recessed to be completely flush with it, a ceiling-mounted shower head bears little resemblance to a standard shower and is often finished with a simple round or square plate from which the water is dispersed.

Pros

Like a rainfall shower, the main benefit of a ceiling-mounted shower is almost entirely in the luxury of the showering experience. Similarly, this type of shower head gives a clean, polished and contemporary finish to your shower space.

Cons

Ceiling-mounted shower heads can be labour-intensive to install and require a large showering area. They also lack the variety of spray patterns found in handheld shower heads.

Aerating Shower Heads

Few shower heads deliver on the promise of a power shower experience quite like an aerated shower head. These cleverly designed components mix air and water to recreate the sensation of increased water pressure. Though they use less water than a standard shower head.

Pros

Aerating shower heads are great for reducing water consumption while maintaining water volume, making your shower both enjoyable and environmentally friendly.

Cons

As a general rule, aerating shower nozzles can be more expensive than standard models.

Fixed Shower Heads

This standard shower configuration features a round or square shower head that is directly attached to the shower wall. Fixed into position, this simple brassware option creates a clean finish to your showering space.

Pros

A clean, uncluttered shower head option that suits both classic and modern bathrooms alike. Fixed heads are available in both smaller, concentrated styles and large surface rainfall shower heads.

Cons

As the name suggests fixed shower nozzles leave no room to manoeuvre, which makes targeted showering near impossible. Equally, few fixed showers offer more than one spray setting.

Dual Shower Heads

Maybe the most convenient shower fixtures, the dual shower or combined shower consists of a handheld showerhead in addition to a fixed showerhead. Both heads are connected to the same showering valve. You can switch between these two outlets via a diverter – allowing you to have either a full drench shower from the fixed head or a more targeted shower with the handheld fixture

Pros

Dual shower heads are a flexible option that offers the best of both worlds and are particularly helpful in family bathrooms

Cons

Dual showers require additional fixtures such as a riser rail and shower hose, both of which can break up a clean and contemporary aesthetic.

Styles

Gone are the days of simple, boring shower fixtures. The growing trend in statement showers means that today’s brassware options go beyond mere practicality – incorporating different styles, functions, and finishes. So how do you choose the style of your shower components?

Traditional Shower Heads

Traditional shower heads are instantly recognisable by their almost bell-shaped or domed design and oval or circular shape. Given the recent resurgence in the popularity of classic brassware, traditional showerheads can be found in multiple configurations – with handheld, fixed, combined and even rain shower head options now widely available.

Handheld traditional showerheads often include heritage-inspired details such as porcelain or ceramic handles, that elevate the look of your brassware to create a cohesive traditional bathroom.

Contemporary Shower Heads

Contemporary shower styles often feature a sleek, slim shower head in either a square or circular style. This modern style of component is often very simple in design and ideal for more minimalist bathroom schemes. Likewise, the growing trend for more novel brassware finishes has seen even more options in terms of shower head finishes, such as matte black, allowing you to coordinate all elements of your showering system to other brassware fittings such as taps and bath fillers.

Choosing a Shower Head

As with any aspect of a bathroom design, there are always considerations to take into account when choosing a shower head, most notably cost, space and water pressure.

Space and Ceiling Height

A spacious bathroom is something of a rarity in a time when most houses are smaller than ever, likewise, the popularity of loft conversions and ensuites means that ceiling height is sometimes compromised in modern bathrooms, These factors combine a limit certain showerhead options – for instance, a ceiling mounted shower that disperses water from a height would require a larger shower area to prevent water damage on walls and non-tiled surfaces.

Cost and Installation

The price of the component itself is just part of the overall cost of fitting a new showerhead. Showerheads can either be an incredibly cost-effective bathroom upgrade or a bit of a hassle depending on your existing bathroom fittings. For instance, should you already have a fixed-head shower, it is generally just a case of replacing like for like. If not, this would require a plumber’s input to ensure all internal pipework connects to your new shower. In the same vein, a rainfall shower requires about a foot of head clearance to achieve the optimum waterfall effect, so you may need to rethink the height of your ceilings to accommodate your dream shower head!

Water Pressure

Last but certainly not least – water pressure or lack thereof is one of the most common roadblocks to realising your perfect shower. Some shower heads, particularly rainfall designs, may require up to 3 bars of pressure to operate when the average household water pressure is just 1 bar. Most water pressure issues can be easily solved by introducing a shower pump into your existing system.